VIHIGA COUNTY — A push against William Ruto is doubling as a test of internal strength within the Orange Democratic Movement.

Leaders aligned to the Linda Mwananchi faction—among them Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, Godfrey Osotsi, James Orengo and Richard Onyonka—used a Vihiga rally to intensify criticism of the government’s economic record, citing the rising cost of living and limited relief for households.

The rally forms part of a wider mobilisation effort that is increasingly redefining the faction’s role—not just as a critic of government policy, but as a bloc seeking to shape the opposition’s direction ahead of the 2027 elections.

A subsequent visit to Bondo, where the leaders paid respects at the grave of Raila Odinga, underscored an attempt to anchor that push within the party’s legacy while projecting continuity.

Attention now shifts to Kisumu, where a planned rally has already drawn caution from sections of ODM leadership over parallel political activity in a key stronghold.

That friction highlights a growing internal contest: while the faction is consolidating an economic-focused campaign against William Ruto, it is also testing its reach and acceptance within ODM’s traditional base.

The outcome of the Kisumu meeting is likely to signal more than turnout. It will indicate whether the emerging bloc can convert mobilisation into influence—both within the party and across the broader opposition landscape—as political positioning for 2027 accelerates.